Question about labor for those of you who have two or more kids already

[happymamajenni]

I was just wondering about your time spent in labour.......

Like how long was your labour with baby 1 and then how long for baby 2 and so forth. I am hoping that the next time it goes faster and I wondered if labour mostly is shorter the second time. With my ds it was a whopping 56 hours!

[HelloKitty]

In many cases labor is shorter with the second and subsequent births but don't count on this always being the case... my first labor was 16 hours (+1/2 hour pushing - it was great), my second was 15 hours (+1 hour pushing) and my third was 20 hours labor (+2 hours pushing). Go figure!

*Edited to add pushing time*

[Ravenmoon]

1st baby was 4 hour labor with 2 hrs of that pushing
2nd baby was 6 hour labor with 1 push(that's it,not an hour just one push)
3rd baby was 45 minute labor with 4 pushes.(she was my biggest baby)

My second labor was my most favorite.Plenty of time to work with the contrax and it all felt very good.One push was great!With my first two hours was just too much work and with my third i never got a break in between contrax and it was too intense.

[hipmamawnc]

With my first I labored for 36 hours and pushed for 35 minutes. Number two was about 12 hours of labor, 8 minutes of pushing. My third was about 10 hours of labor and 10 minutes of pushing.

I had terrible back labor with the first and started out that way with the second but he turned around more quickly than his big sister. ( She is still stubborn) I had long transitions with both my boys, numbers two and three, due to stubborn cervical lip.

My babies have gotten consecutively larger yet my labors shorter.

Good luck to you and happy birthing.


Robyn wife to Eric, SAHM to Raven 6 1/2, Dakota 4 and Zebulon 5 weeks

[mehndi mama]

1st: 8 hours (2 hours pushing)
2nd: 1 hour (no pushing)
3rd: 3 days (30 min pushing)
4th: 5 hours (20 min pushing)
5th: 6 hours (15-20 min pushing)

The intensity of them all varied quite a bit, too. There really is no way to predict how long you will labor. I figure, prepare yourself properly for the possibility of a lightning-fast birth (i.e. do a bit of research on unassisted birth, just in case), and prepare yourself menatally for a longer labor. That way, if it's shorter, you'll have a nice surprise :D

edited to add pushing times (approximate)

[lilmiss'mama]

#1 30 hours with 2.5 hours of pushing
#2 10 hours with .5 hours of pushing

[rose angel]

My first was a 14 hour labor 3 hours pushing (I remember because they wanted to vaccuum her out because it had been 3 hours)
second was 8 hour labor, probably 30 min pushing
(I wasn't timing that part :LOL)
Wishing us all great labors this time around!

[ekblad9]

1st baby - 6hrs

2nd baby - 4hrs

3rd baby - 3 hrs (with and additionaly 3 hrs pushing time :( He was face up)

4th baby - 8 hrs

5th baby - 19 hrs! :eek

Hoping to be more like one or two this time around!

[*Amy*]

I wish there were some way to know what I have in store. I'm scared, but I think I'm still more optimistic than I should be about how difficult it's going to be! :eek

Have y'all used Bradley or Hypnobirth or anything that seems helpful?

[mehndi mama]

I just went with the flow, and moved & did things that felt helpful. With Davey, I was doing something different with each contraction - in the tub, out of the tub, on the ball, lay down in bed, lean on DH, lean over the bed, back in the tub.....
Once I got close to transition, I just stayed on the bed so I could nap between contractions.....and I really did conk out for the 30 seconds in between! It was kinda cool ;)

[*Amy*]

Actually this isn't about labor, but it is for the moms who have been through pregnancy before. My MIL has been harping on me to rub baby oil on my belly to prevent stretch marks. I don't really see the point because (a) I moisturize my body daily, and (b) don't stretch marks have more to do with genetics, how fast you grow, etc.? From what I've heard, you can't really prevent stretch marks, so those who never got them are just lucky, or stretchy, or grew slowly.

Do y'all have anything you recommend, or don't recommend?

[woobysma]

Actually this isn't about labor, but it is for the moms who have been through pregnancy before. My MIL has been harping on me to rub baby oil on my belly to prevent stretch marks. I don't really see the point because (a) I moisturize my body daily, and (b) don't stretch marks have more to do with genetics, how fast you grow, etc.? From what I've heard, you can't really prevent stretch marks, so those who never got them are just lucky, or stretchy, or grew slowly.

Do y'all have anything you recommend, or don't recommend?


You are correct - stretch marks are all genetics and growth rate. Nothing you rub on the outer layers of your skin is going to affect the stretching capabilities.